Automatic ribbon-reversing mechanism



Dec. 19, 1922. 1,439,058.

H. F. E. BAESELER.

AUTOMATIC RIBBON REVERSING MECHANISM.

FILED MAY 3, I922.

By W I ufttorn eye Patented Dec. 19, 1222.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HEINRICH F. E. BAESELER, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE FIRM: AKTIEN- GESELLSCHAFT VORM. SEIDEL & NAUMANN, F-DRESDEN-A, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC RIBBON-REVERSING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 3, 1922.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HEINRICH FRANZ ED- MUND BAESELER, citizen of the German Empire, and resident of Dresden, Saxony, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Ribbon-Reversing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention refers to a device for automatically reversing the ink-ribbon in typewriters and similar writing apparatus, of the kind in which the tension of the ink ribbon, when it has unrolled itself entirely from one of the spools is utilized and causes a pressure in always the same direction on certain levers, which thus drive the pro or reversing mechanism and which in t is specification shall be referred to as ribbonlevers.

The invention consists in connecting one of the ribbon-levers to a member of anchor shape in such a way, that the anchor is d1- rectly driven by the ribbon levers against the action of a spring, and in providing on the proper reversing lever two shoulders on different sides of its turning centre and lying within the direction of movement of the anchor arms, so that, when the ribbonlever is moved and the anchor, one of the anchor arms catches the shoulder in register and thereby turns the reversing lever one way and in such a position that after the return of the anchor at the next stroke the other shoulder of the reversing-lever is first struck by the other arm of the anchor and the reversing lever thus turned the other way and so on alternatingly.

It is the object of the invention to diminish as far as possible with arrangements of this kind the number of parts, which transfer the movement of the one or of'the two ribbon-levers on the reversing mechanism.

In the drawings are represented by way 45 of example, those parts of a type-writer which serve for the object. of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of these parts in resting-position.

Fig. 2 is a like view showing the position of those parts after the ink-ribbon has been reversed in one direction.

The vertical axles 11 and 12 of the inkribbon spools are alternately driven by the bevel wheels 7 and 8. The ink-ribbon 1O Serial No. 558,218.

the guide-roller 14 on the rigid arm 13, whereas arm 16, which carries the other guide-roller 15, can swing round the axis 12. Any turning movement of the arm 16 is transmitted onto anchor 1 by the doublearined lever 2 swinging round pivot 17 and catching pin 18 of the anchor. The anchor is guided through the same pin 18 which reaches within a slot 19 of the plate 20 fastened to the frame of the machine in any suitable manner. The anchor is further kept in its resting and middle position by means of helical spring 21. The reversing lever 4 is pivotally connected to plate 20 by pivot 22 and reaches with pin 24 within the annular groove of the collar 25, fastened on shaft The reversing lever 4 is also provided with the two shoulders 3, which cooperate with the arms 26 of anchor 1. The shoulders 3 are provided with inclined plane faces adapted when contacting with one of the anchor arms to deviate thereby the anchor from its middle position, thus moving the other arm out of register with the other shoulder 3. The position of the reversing lever 4 after each reversing operation is such that the arm 26 and shoulder 3 meet one another first which the last time were deviated from one another thus preventing both pairs of arms 26 and shoulders 3 meeting at the same time.

The reversing lever 4 is secured in both its end positions by means of catches not indicated in the drawing.

The axle 5 is journalled in the machine frame in such a way that it can turn as well as be shifted lengthwise and is secured in its respective end posit-ions in a known way by means of catches subject to the ac tion of springs, which catch in recesses.

The way of operating is as follows: The ink-ribbon when entirely unrolled from one of the two spools 11 or 12 becomes tightened and presses arm 16 in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 1). Thereby, in each case, anchor l is drawn to the right. At the same time the reversing lever 4 being for instance in a position according to Fig. 1 causes the upper shoulder 3 to be struck first by the upper arm of the anchor and pushed towards the right hand side of Fig. 1, thereby shaft 5 being shifted to the left. Thus the bevel wheel 6 of the driving shaft 5 is set into gear with the bevel wheel 8 and inkribbon spool 11 is now driven, in the opposite direction to which spool 12 was formerly driven. Fig. 2 represents the position of all parts when this operation is accomplished. As soon as the bevel wheels 6 and 7 are thrown out of gear the tension of the ink-ribbon is loosened and arm 16 as well as anchor 1 return into the original position (Fig. 1) under the action of spring 21. The reversing lever 4 however remains in the new osition (Fig. 2). When spool 12 is entire y unrolled, the ribbon becoming tightened a ain, will turn arm 16 in the direction 0 the arrow and pull anchor 1 towards the right. This time the lower arm of the anchor will strike the lower shoulder of the reversing-lever 4.- and turn the same in the opposite direction thereby shifting the shaft 5 towards the right, so, that the bevel wheels 6 and 7 come into gear again.

This reversing device is the simplest imaginable, works in a very reliable wa with but few parts and the ink-ribbon is completely utilized.

I claim:

1. An automatic ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters and similar writing machines comprising an anchor provided with a pair of arms and mounted for longitudinal and pivotal movement, a reversing lever provided with a pair of spaced shoulders, means to normally hold said anchor upon a longitudinal axis substantially centrally located with respect to said shoulders, and with said arms spaced from said shoulders, and means connecting said anchor to the ribbon of the machine whereby increased tension of the ribbon caused when the ribbon is entirely unrolled from one of the spools will actuate said anchor to move one of said arms into engagement with one of said shoulders.

2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1, in which said shoulders are provided with inclined faces constructed and arranged to contact with said anchor arms and move said anchor transversely to said longitudinal axis to cause only one of said arms and shoulders to be in engagement at the same time.

3. An automatic ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters and similar writing machines comprising an anchor provided with a pair of arms, one end of said anchor pivotally mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a reversing lever provided with a pair of spaced shoulders, resilient means secured to the other end of said anchor adapted to normally hold said anchor upon a longitudinal axis substantially equally spaced between said shoulders, and with said arms out of engagement with said shoulders, and means connecting said anchor to the ribbon of the machine whereby increased tension of the ribbon when the ribbon is entirely unrolled from one of the spools will actuate said anchor to move one of said arms into engagement with one of said shoulders.

4. An automatic ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters and similar writing machines comprising an anchor provided with a pair of arms, one end of said anchor pivotally mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, a pivoted reversing lever provided with a shoulder upon each side of the .pivotal point of said lever, adapted to be alternately engaged by one of said anchor arms to actuate said reversing lever in opposite directions, means to normally hold said anchor out of engagement with said shoulders, means connecting said anchor with the ribbon of the machine whereby increased tension of the ribbon when the ribbon is entirely unrolled from one of the spools will actuate said anchor and gearing actuated by said reversing lever to change thedirection of travel of said ribbon.

5. An automatic ribbon reversing mecha nism for typewriters and similar writingmachines comprising an anchor provided with a air of arms, one end of said anchor, pivotal y mounted forlongitudinal sliding movement, a pivoted reversing lever provided with a shoulder upon each side of the pivotal point of said lever, each of said shoulders adapted to be engaged by one of said anchor arms, resilient means to normally hold said anchor upon a longitudinal axis substantially centrally located between said shoulders, means connecting said anchor to the ribbon of the machine, said shoulders provided with inclined faces adapted to contact with said anchor and shift the same transversely to said axis and move one of said anchor arms out of alinement with one of said shoulders, and the other of said arms into engagement with the other of said shoulders, said inclined faces of said shoulders constructed and arranged to cause alternate engagement of said arms and shoulders whereby said reversing lever will be shifted alternately in opposite directions, and gearing actuated by said reversing lever to reverse the direction of travel of said ribb0n.

Signed at Dresden, Saxony, Germany, this 28th day of March A. D. 1922.

HEINRICH F. E. BAESELER.

Witnesses:

WERNER PUDNY, J OHN A. Sco n. 

